Camping, Princess Style

[Smithy]

10 hours ago, C. sapidus said:

Have you been to Rudy's Bar-B-Q? It is a chain based in Texas that we sought out for really good drive-through food when we were traveling out west when Covid was a larger consideration. Drive-through usually worked for the camper van but you might be a bit more constrained with your rig.

 

We went to Rudy's a few times and generally enjoyed it. It took a bit of doing to get to the one in El Paso but we thought it was worth it. (We had to park and walk in.) That is, we thought it was worth it until we discovered Cooper's Old-Time Pit Barbecue in Llano (and elsewhere). That's even better! Llano became a regular stop-and-stay for us, partly because of the wonderful park and cycling opportunities but mostly because of the excellent barbecue. I'm not planning to go that way this time, but eventually I'd like to go again. 

[YvetteMT]

@Smithy I was wondering where you were with all the food options, I didn't expect Amarillo!  Your goat looks so good, Ive had it a number of times and not found it strong (aka, tasting of billy goat). If you can find someone that is cooking the goat wrapped in leaves, in a dirt pit, with fire...charm them with music, a plate of brownies and if necessary, cash, so you can get a plate!

[Shelby]

1 hour ago, patti said:

I would SO stop for a tea leaf salad at a Burmese restaurant.

 

ME TOO!! 

[Smithy]

3 hours ago, patti said:

 

Tea leaf salad! I would SO stop for a tea leaf salad at a Burmese restaurant.

 

Also, I love reading about your journey. Thanks.

 

2 hours ago, Shelby said:

ME TOO!! 

 

Well, maybe I'll have to go check out a tea leaf salad. I've never heard of it before now! I'm here for at least another day. The wind has shifted around from the southwest to the north, in a classic "Texas Norther". The temperature right now is 43F, which isn't bad compared to what I came from but not much fun to be out in, since the wind is 25 gusting to 33 mph. I'll leave that crosswind to the professionals. And it would definitely be a crosswind for me today.

 

Breakfast this morning was from the yogurt I bought yesterday, and a healthy dose of frozen blueberries. The only plain Greek yogurt I could find yesterday was Chobani nonfat Greek yogurt. I don't know for sure whether it's the brand or the fat content, but this yogurt is thin and disappointing. I usually get Fage 2% or 5% fat content. This yogurt is certainly edible, but I won't get it again if I can help it.

 

 

The blueberries are Wyman's wild blueberries, and they're wonderful. I generally find cultivated blueberries to be hit-and-miss as far as flavor; wild blueberries have more intense flavor. This frozen food is a nice product. My best friend, who lives in San Diego, says she can't find it there.

 

[Shelby]

39 minutes ago, Smithy said:

 

 

Well, maybe I'll have to go check out a tea leaf salad. I've never heard of it before now! I'm here for at least another day. The wind has shifted around from the southwest to the north, in a classic "Texas Norther". The temperature right now is 43F, which isn't bad compared to what I came from but not much fun to be out in, since the wind is 25 gusting to 33 mph. I'll leave that crosswind to the professionals. And it would definitely be a crosswind for me today.

 

Breakfast this morning was from the yogurt I bought yesterday, and a healthy dose of frozen blueberries. The only plain Greek yogurt I could find yesterday was Chobani nonfat Greek yogurt. I don't know for sure whether it's the brand or the fat content, but this yogurt is thin and disappointing. I usually get Fage 2% or 5% fat content. This yogurt is certainly edible, but I won't get it again if I can help it.

 

 

The blueberries are Wyman's wild blueberries, and they're wonderful. I generally find cultivated blueberries to be hit-and-miss as far as flavor; wild blueberries have more intense flavor. This frozen food is a nice product. My best friend, who lives in San Diego, says she can't find it there.

 

Yeah it's turned cold with a strong wind from the north here, too.  

 

I highly recommend searching out that salad if you're up for it.  @pattiis the one that introduced it to me several years ago.  I went through a phase where I couldn't get enough of it!  I bought several "kits" off of Etsy and also Amazon.  I found a picture of one of them that I made--the tomatoes were my addition and probably aren't traditional:

 

 

edited to add I'll try to dig around in my cabinets--I bet I still have a mix stashed somewhere 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Shelby (log)

[ElsieD]

Whereabouts are you, @Smithy?

[Maison Rustique]

I haven't heard of tea leaf salad either! Guess I need to Google!

[Smithy]

1 hour ago, ElsieD said:

Whereabouts are you, @Smithy?

 

I'm in Amarillo, Texas -- the panhandle part. This is turning out to be a good stopping point, and I'm glad I've had a few extra days here.

[Smithy]

2 hours ago, Maison Rustique said:

I haven't heard of tea leaf salad either! Guess I need to Google!

 

Well, let me enlighten you! To quote a favorite movie line: My mind has been expanded!

 

Oh my goodness, this is good stuff. Here's a preview.

 

 

The place, Shwe Myine Thu, is only a couple of miles away from my current camping spot. Given the high recommendations of @Shelby and @patti , how could I not go out to get some tea leaf salad to try? I bundled up -- for a Texas norther, that is, not for Minnesota -- and drove over.

 

 

The outside has picture menus of various dishes they offer, though I didn't see tea leaf salad listed.

 

 

Inside, the place was clean and quiet.

 

 

I ordered my salad and had a lot of time to enjoy the artwork and other picture menus.

 

 

 

At some point I realized that I was looking through an interior window at an attached Burmese market -- not the Asian market on the east side, but another one attached at the west side. The entrance is so far from the restaurant that the place must be huge!

 

 

I did not go over there. I already have Condiment Creep problems. However, I couldn't resist this packaged mix in the restaurant:

 

 

The description / ingredients were posted below the stack of containers:

 

 

I asked about what to do with it, and was told that it's a good addition to rice. I think she said to fry it first, although the ingredient list suggests it's already been friend once. What the heck. It was only $5. I have now added it to my pantry goods, and will be pleased to get recommendations for use.

 

Eventually my lunch was ready. The young woman behind the counter was very apologetic for the wait, and said it's always best to call ahead. I really didn't mind; I'd been enjoying looking around and even watching some of the activity in the attached market that I was resolutely avoiding.

 

So, here's what I opened when I got home:

 

 

See the garlic cloves and little chiles there in the corner? I've saved them for later.  I didn't think the salad needed any help. One of you who knows about tea leaf salad can tell me how I should have used them.

 

If flavors could be drop-dead gorgeous, this would fit the bill! Crunchy. Very crunchy. A llttle tart, a little spicy heat, a LOT of flavor. I think I can identify some lime juice and fish sauce, but I'm not sure what else is there.

 

 

I'm not sure what-all is in it. Fried peanuts are easily identifiable. There's something very finely sliced that might be cabbage of some variety. Tomatoes, of course. Some other crunchy things too. What is this green thing? It's very crunchy, and has some heat.

 

 

 

Wuf. This is wonderful! I'm glad I followed pattie's and Shelby's recommendation! It was only $8, and I'll be getting 2 meals out of it. The gentleman you can see sitting with his back to me suggested I eat this over rice. Maybe so, but I ate it straight this first time around.

 

If you're ever in Amarillo, I recommend you look these folks up:

 

 

@patti. @Shelby, and anyone else who has a recipe for tea leaf salad, please share it. I've been looking online and the recipes are all over the place as far as procedures and ingredients.